Apple’s new iPad lineup is confusing, redundant, and overwhelming

Apple on Tuesday launched new iPads that may give us a lot to speak about for weeks to return. The brand new Tenth-generation iPad is a whole redesign that brings it according to the Air and mini, and the brand new iPad Professional is the quickest pill ever made, with an M2 processor and Wi-Fi 6E. In easy phrases, Apple’s new tablets are its strongest ever, bringing extra choices for shoppers at each ends of the spectrum.

However shopping for an iPad can be extra complicated than ever. Apple now has 5 completely different iPad traces beginning at $329 and going all the best way as much as greater than $2,000. Right here’s how the fashions break down:

• iPad (Ninth technology, 64GB): $329
• iPad (Ninth technology, 256GB): $479
• iPad (Tenth technology, 64GB): $479
• iPad mini (64GB): $499
• iPad (Tenth technology, 256GB): $599
• iPad Air (64GB): $599
• iPad mini (256GB): $649
• iPad Air (256GB): $749)
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 128GB): $799
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 256GB): $899
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 512GB): $1,099
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 128GB): $1,099
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 256GB): $1,199
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 512GB): $1,399
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 1TB): $1,499
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 1TB): $1,799
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 2TB): $1,899
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 2TB): $2,199

And people costs don’t even account for the mobile choices, which add $200 to the iPad Professional, $150 to the Tenth-gen iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini, and $130 to the Ninth-gen iPad.

So whereas choices are positively good, they can be overwhelming. In case you have $600 to spend, for instance, you will get a brand new iPad with 256GB of storage or an iPad Air with 64GB of storage, an iPad mini with 64GB of storage, or a Ninth-gen iPad with 256GB of storage and mobile connectivity.

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However the place it actually will get complicated is with the options. Take into account these information about Apple’s iPad lineup:

• Three distinct iPads basically have the identical sized 11-inch show.
• The Tenth-gen iPad doesn’t have the anti-reflective coating that was launched in 2014.
• Each iPad Apple sells has a distinct processor.
• The Tenth-gen iPad is the one mannequin to have a selfie digital camera in panorama orientation.
• The iPad Professional has newer Bluetooth (5.3) than the Tenth-gen iPad (5.2) and the iPad Air and mini (5.0).
• The iPad mini is the one mannequin that doesn’t assist any of Apple’s keyboard instances.
• The Tenth-gen iPad nonetheless doesn’t assist the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil.

So not solely do it’s essential to wade via almost two dozen choices when deciding which pill to purchase, however you even have to contemplate small variations within the varied lineups which may not be apparent to informal shoppers. Most patrons most likely couldn’t inform the distinction between the Tenth-gen iPad’s unlaminated show and the iPad Air’s laminated show or really feel the velocity of an A15 versus an A13. How are shoppers imagined to make a sensible shopping for resolution when they should make a spreadsheet and an explainer simply to determine the completely different options?

And who’s the iPad Air for now? It has an M1 processor and second-gen Apple Pencil assist, however if you happen to’re a person who wants these options, you must think about the 11-inch iPad Professional. And if you happen to’re not, you must simply get the Tenth-gen iPad and save $150. And what in regards to the iPad mini? Is it price spending $50 extra than the Tenth-gen iPad for a smaller display screen and a barely higher processor? 

After which there’s the problem of updating. The Tenth-gen iPad solely simply launched, so we don’t understand how typically it is going to be up to date, however we do know in regards to the different traces:

iPad mini: Final replace in September 2021; subsequent anticipated replace March 2023

iPad Air: Final replace in March 2022; subsequent anticipated replace September 2023

iPad Professional: Final replace in October 2022; subsequent anticipated replace March 2024

So if you happen to purchase an iPad subsequent February, it’s a must to think about that the iPad mini is likely to be up to date quickly. If you’d like one in the summertime, there’ll most likely be an iPad Air replace proper across the nook.

The brand new iPad was imagined to simplify shopping for choices however it solely muddled the lineup additional. And it gives the look that Apple nonetheless doesn’t fairly perceive what to do with its pill lineup, so it continues to throw increasingly on the wall to see what is going to stick. And sooner or later, shoppers are simply going to cease making an attempt to determine it out.